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Schlich M, Musazzi UM, Campani V, Biondi M, Franzé S, Lai F, De Rosa G, Sinico C, Cilurzo F. Design and development of topical liposomal formulations in a regulatory perspective. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2021; 12:1811-1828. [PMID: 34755281 PMCID: PMC8577404 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-01089-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The skin is the absorption site for drug substances intended to treat loco-regional diseases, although its barrier properties limit the permeation of drug molecules. The growing knowledge of the skin structure and its physiology have supported the design of innovative nanosystems (e.g. liposomal systems) to improve the absorption of poorly skin-permeable drugs. However, despite the dozens of clinical trials started, few topically applied liposomal systems have been authorized both in the EU and the USA. Indeed, the intrinsic complexity of the topically applied liposomal systems, the higher production costs, the lack of standardized methods and the more stringent guidelines for assessing their benefit/risk balance can be seen as causes of such inefficient translation. The present work aimed to provide an overview of the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical characterization methods that can be applied to topical liposomal systems intended to be marketed as medicinal products, and the current regulatory provisions. The discussion highlights how such methodologies can be relevant for defining the critical quality attributes of the final product, and they can be usefully applied based on the phase of the life cycle of a liposomal product: to guide the formulation studies in the early stages of development, to rationally design preclinical and clinical trials, to support the pharmaceutical quality control system and to sustain post-marketing variations. The provided information can help define harmonized quality standards able to overcome the case-by-case approach currently applied by regulatory agencies in assessing the benefit/risk of the topically applied liposomal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Schlich
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Vita E Dell'Ambiente, Sezione Scienze del Farmaco, Università Di Cagliari, via Ospedale 72, 09124, Cagliari, Italy.,Laboratory of Nanotechnology for Precision Medicine, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Umberto M Musazzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Virginia Campani
- Dipartimento Di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Biondi
- Dipartimento Di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Franzé
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Lai
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Vita E Dell'Ambiente, Sezione Scienze del Farmaco, Università Di Cagliari, via Ospedale 72, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Rosa
- Dipartimento Di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Sinico
- Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Vita E Dell'Ambiente, Sezione Scienze del Farmaco, Università Di Cagliari, via Ospedale 72, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Cilurzo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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